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Account with the Camp of Israel, circa 11–29 August 1834

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Account with the Camp of Israel, circa 11–29 August 1834

Source Note

Account with the Camp of Israel, [, Geauga Co., OH], [ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834]; handwriting of ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.
This account was written on a single leaf ruled both vertically and horizontally and measuring 15½ × 12½ inches (39 × 32 cm). The original leaf was likely folded down the middle, and it eventually separated into two leaves. Adhesive cellophane tape residue indicates an attempt to rejoin them as a single leaf. Debits are displayed on the left leaf and credits on the right leaf. The adjoined leaves were folded together, with the text facing the inside; they were then folded twice widthwise into thirds; a final half-fold resulted in a document measuring approximately 7¾ × 2½ inches (20 × 6 cm). Two dockets were written on the exposed exterior of the right leaf. The first docket, inscribed in black ink in the handwriting of , reads: “May 3, 1834 | Joseph Smith’s account with ”. The second docket, in now-faded red ink in the handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, reads: “May— 1834 | Jos. Smith’s account with | Zion’s Camp”. It is presumed that these pages were originally contained in a large ledger book.
In August 1834, apparently submitted the account to the , Ohio, . It is listed in the first Historian’s Office inventory, suggesting continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834.

  2. [2]

    “Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1] , Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

Historical Introduction

Sometime in August 1834, created this record showing JS’s personal contributions to the . Hyde created the list at least partly because accused JS of committing financial improprieties while JS led the camp in spring and summer 1834. The record, made in connection with another account with the , showed JS’s personal transactions involving the camp along with his contributions to the Camp of Israel. This record provides a line-by-line accounting of JS’s contributions, as well as the cash and property he had remaining when he returned to in July 1834. It indicates that JS contributed $1,068.44 to the expedition in cash—obtained from , sales of the Book of Mormon, and subscriptions to The Evening and the Morning Star—and in other property, such as horses, a watch, and the use of harnesses and wagons. At the time JS began his return trek to Ohio, he had $424.16 in cash and property remaining, making a net contribution to the camp of $644.28. Hyde listed the $644.28 on the Church of Christ account in two separate entries: the first, for $582.44, was listed as the “amt of cash paid into the general fund,” while the second, for $61.84, was designated as “ware and tare of waggons, harnesses &c. it being also a balance of an a/c with the camp of Israel.”
It is not clear why created an account for JS that was separate from the general Camp of Israel account, but there are a few possible explanations. It may be that although JS’s contributions were considered as “paid into the general fund,” he did not physically combine the funds mentioned in this account with the rest of the general fund, but instead retained them in his possession. Alternatively, a detailed account of JS’s contributions may have been warranted because his donations consisted of both cash and material goods. JS may also have had the second account kept because he intended to be reimbursed for his contributions, possibly because the resources he donated came at least partly out of his personal property. The net amount of JS’s contribution appears on the Church of Christ account as a balance owed to him by the church, suggesting that the amount was intended to be credited or repaid to JS. This would explain why JS’s contributions are not included on the Church of Christ account as part of the “consrecrated moneys” in the general fund.
JS’s account does not provide complete explanations of all of the transactions detailed thereon. For example, the credit side of the account shows JS contributing over $450 in material property, but the debit side shows that the property in his possession at the time he departed for totaled only $206. Aside from the $61.84 credited to JS for “ware and tare of waggons, harnesses &c.,” he appears to have no other non-cash credit. It is not clear how the non-cash balance was made up, but the $218 JS had in cash upon his return journey (shown on the debit side of the account) may have been seen as payment for those non-cash donations. It is also unclear why the debit side of the account begins only with JS’s return journey to , Ohio. It is possible that his expenses up to that time were covered by the Camp of Israel’s general fund and that he used his own personal money only on the return trip.
created this double-entry account on loose-leaf ledger paper. He likely presented it to the high council on 29 August 1834 at the same time that he presented the Church of Christ account. The minutes for that meeting, however, are not clear as to whether this account was submitted. It is also unclear if JS was actually reimbursed for the $644.28.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 11 Aug. 1834.

  2. [2]

    For more information about the creation of these accounts and possible dates of creation, see Historical Introduction to Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.

  3. [3]

    Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.

  4. [4]

    Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.

Page [1]

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Joseph Smith Junr. in a/c with the
Dr.Crt.
1834. 1834 .
July To this am’t. of cash in his possession at the time he left for Ohio {132.00 May 3. By this am’t. of cash paid into the general fund rec’d of which he collected for me in {203.00
" To cash rec’d of in 10.00 " " By this am’t paid into the general fund rec’d of by loan {207.19
" " " d[itt]o of in. do " " 6.00
" " " do as his part of the remainder of the money which feell to him by division {1.16 " " By this am’t. paid into the general fund rec’d of , the Editor of the Star, of Star subscriptions {25.00
" To 1 Eagle $10— 2 Sovereigns at $4.50— 19.00 " " By this am’t. paid in as above received for Books of Mormon and other printed documents {50.00
" " Cash receivd of the at 50.00
" " 2 Sets of Harness (worn and injured) @$20— 40.00 " " By this am’t. paid in as above received for Books of Mormon sold on the road to {27.25
" " 1 horse which was Bought at (mack horse) 60[.]00
" " 1 Spavined horse (Booth horse) 16[.]00 " By one Cream Colored Horse bought of in the State of in April last {85.00
" " 1 Gray mare sold for $45— . (Exchanged for on the road) 45.00
" " 1 3 Years old colt— (Exchanged for the chock hors) 45.00 " " By one gray mare bo’t. of the committee 75.00
To balance carried down to new a/c .— 644[.]28 " " " one spavined horse bo’t. of W. Barker 16.00
" " " one Set of Harness Bot. of Widmot of 30[.]00
" " " one " " do " " Curtis Hodges of 30.00
" " " The use of two waggons hired of Hancock & Burgess. price not agreed upon; but supposed to be about $25 {25.00
" " By the ware and use of one pleasure waggon in the journey 20.00
" " " one Silver Watch turned into the fund sold for $20— 20.00
June 8 " one horse Bo’t. at at $70— $50— cash & the above watch 50.00
July 5 " one do do of , the , in . 45[.]00
" " one do do of Allred in on the return 60.00
" " this am’t. received, by loan, of in 50.00
" " do do do of 10.00
" " do do do of 6.00
" " do do do for Books of Mormon in gold. (1 Eagle & 2 Sovr) 19[.]00
" " do do paid to , being the difference in the Exchange of horses {15.00
1068.44 1068.44
1834
[A]ug’t. 27
By balance bro’t. down from old a/c 644[.]28
To this amt of cash credited in an a/c with the (See voucher) 582.44
To this amt credited on another a/c to balance this 61.84
61.84
[p. [1]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Account with the Camp of Israel, circa 11–29 August 1834
ID #
2157
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:156–163
Handwriting on This Page
  • Orson Hyde

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    An abbreviation for “debit.”

  2. [2]

    An abbreviation for “credit.”

  3. [3]

    The account does not show the origin of this $132. It may have been taken from the general fund.

  4. [4]

    It is not clear when Harris collected this money. He was in Kirtland in February 1834 and was a member of the Camp of Israel, which departed Kirtland in May. Harris also donated forty-seven dollars of his own money to the camp. (Minutes, 12 Feb. 1834; George A. Smith, Autobiography, 34; Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.)

    Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.

  5. [5]

    When the Camp of Israel disbanded, the $233.70 remaining in the general fund from contributions that members of the camp had made in May 1834 was divided equally among camp members, with each member receiving $1.16. (Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.)

  6. [6]

    The Evening and the Morning Star was the church-owned newspaper that was first published in Independence, Missouri. After the printing office there was destroyed, it was printed in Kirtland, Ohio. (Historical Introduction to Minutes, 11 Sept. 1833.)

  7. [7]

    As detailed on the credit side of this ledger, this money may have been received from sales of the Book of Mormon. An eagle was a gold United States coin valued at $10 in 1828, while a sovereign was an English gold coin valued at $4.44 at that time. (“Eagle” and “Sovereign,” in American Dictionary.)

    An American Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibit, I. the Origin, Affinities and Primary Signification of English Words, as far as They Have Been Ascertained. . . . Edited by Noah Webster. New York: S. Converse, 1828.

  8. [8]

    Edward Partridge. This may have been the money borrowed from Partridge and listed on the credit side of this account. With the $132 in cash and the amounts received from Wight, Hyde, and Partridge, JS had $218.16 for the return journey. George A. Smith, who was in JS’s traveling party to Ohio, which departed on 9 July 1834, remembered JS purchasing provisions along the way. Smith also stated that when the group reached Little Louisville, Indiana, JS, Hyrum Smith, William Smith, and Frederick G. Williams took a stagecoach back to Kirtland, leaving George A. Smith “and the other boys who were left with his wagons eight dollars a piece” for their expenses. Presumably, the money left with the “boys,” as well as the funds needed for the stagecoach fare, came from the $218. (George A. Smith, Autobiography, 50–51, 57–58.)

    Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.

  9. [9]

    This may have been the large horse called Mark Antony that JS purchased on 12 June 1834. (George A. Smith, Autobiography, 31.)

    Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.

  10. [10]

    The “Gray mare” and colt may have been part of exchanges with Sylvester Smith and Zerubabbel Snow. (See Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.)

  11. [11]

    The chapel committee, or the committee to build the House of the Lord, was appointed in June 1833 to supervise the funding of the construction of the House of the Lord (which JS sometimes referred to as the chapel) in Kirtland, Ohio. The committee members were Reynolds Cahoon, Jared Carter, and Hyrum Smith. (Minutes, 6 June 1833; JS, Journal, 18 Oct. 1835.)

  12. [12]

    TEXT: Possibly “Backer”. This may have been William Barker, who, according to one source, was “a leader of Mormonism” in Jamestown, New York. (Hazeltine, Early History of the Town of Ellicott, Chautauqua County, N. Y., 343–344.)

    Hazeltine, Gilbert W. The Early History of the Town of Ellicott, Chautauqua County, N. Y., Compiled Largely from the Personal Recollections of the Author. Jamestown, NY: Journal Printing Company, 1887.

  13. [13]

    Curtis Hodges Sr. was a church member who had been disciplined in February 1834, in part for “hollowing so loud” at a prayer meeting “that the neighbours came out to see if some one was not hurt.” (Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834.)

  14. [14]

    “Hanock & Burgess” may be Levi Hancock and Harrison Burgess, both of whom were members of the Camp of Israel. (Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.)

  15. [15]

    This could be the horse that George A. Smith remembered JS purchasing “on credit” while camped at the Allred settlement at Salt River on 15 July 1834. (George A. Smith, Autobiography, 52.)

    Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.

  16. [16]

    TEXT: “[Page damage]ug’t.27

  17. [17]

    This $582.44 equals the sum of cash delineations on the credit side of the account, minus the $15 said to have been paid to Ezra Thayer in a horse exchange.

  18. [18]

    TEXT: Double underlined.

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